The Zack Greinke trade might have got the headlines, but the trade with the Blue Jays for 29-year old righty starting pitcher Shaun Marcum has made a bigger impact on the Brewers this year. Marcum has started 20 games for the Brewers so far this year and he is 8-3 with a 3.39 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP. He has only given up 97 hits in 116 2/3 innings so far this year while 105 whiffs and only 36 walks, as he has been really effective so far this year. The Brewers hope that Marcum finishes the year strongly as they are in a dogfight with the Cardinals, Reds and Pirates in the N.L. Central.

27-year old righty starting pitcher Zack Greinke got off to a slow start this year as he started the year on the D.L. But, he’s starting to get things together right now. He was the winning pitcher last night against the Rays and he looked dominant. He pitched 7 innings in which he allowed only 4 hits and 1 earned run while walking no one and whiffing 10! Greinke has started 4 games so far in June and he is 3-1 with a 4.10 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP. He has whiffed 35 batters while only walking 3 in his first 26 1/3 innings in June! Greinke has now started 10 games for the Brewers so far this year and he is 7-2 with a 4.77 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP. He has whiffed 80 batters while only walking 9 in his first 60 1/3 innings pitched. Greinke is getting into his groove now and the Brewers will enjoy the ride.

25-year old righty starting pitcher Yovani Gallardo has been incredible as of late. In his last five starts, Gallardo is 5-0 with a 1.29 ERA and a 0.86 WHIP. Gallardo has only gave up 20 hits while whiffing 34 batters in 35 innings for the Brewers over his last five starts. Gallardo has now pitched in 12 games (all starts) for the Brewers this year and he is 7-2 with a 3.89 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP. The Brewers are getting ready to roll because the starting rotation is starting to round into shape as of late, and Gallardo is a huge part of that.

38-year old righty reliever LaTroy Hawkins has given the Brewers’ bullpen a boost since coming off the D.L. He has pitched in 6 games (0 starts) so far in May for the Brewers and he is 0-0 with a 0.00 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP. Hawkins has now pitched in 10 games (0 starts) for the Brewers so far this year and he is 0-0 with a 1.45 ERA and a 0.93 WHIP. The Brewers’ bullpen hasn’t been a strength of the team this year, so they are glad to have Hawkins back in action.

41-year old righty reliever Takashi Saito was rehabbing his hamstring injury in AAA, when he hurt his oblique muscle which will cause him to miss another 4-6 weeks. This is a very bad break for the Brewers who were depending on Saito to be the set-up man this year. 29-year old righty Kameron Loe will serve as the set-up man as long as he can keep pitching well. Loe has pitched in 15 games (0 starts) for the Brewers so far this year and he is 2-2 with a 3.38 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP.